SG USA June 2023

Product ion

SANTA GERTRUDIS

By Randy L. Stanko, Ph.D., Texas A&M University-Kingsville RAISE, CHECK OR FOLD

B eef cattle producers may believe their business is similar to sitting at a poker table with a group of pro fessional poker players, like Doyle runson, never knowing whether to raise or check your bet, or fold. I want to offer some encouraging words that 2023 is not the time to “fold,” even as we face escalating variable costs to run the ranch. Increased expenses are

mercial American breed cattle, I think the demand for quality replacement heifers over the next two to three years should be phenomenal. If raising and marketing replacement heifers is a steady stream of income for your operation, you will have wished you had raised more of them. You also may want to retain a few more this year than normal to increase your production units. I would if I had the forage to support such an increase. However, if you are a producer looking for reasonably priced yearling heifers to add to the herd or replace some older cows, I would recommend some caution. The yearling heifer market will be guided by the economic principles of supply and demand, as well as stocker-calf values on the commercial side. Moreover, yearling heifers, commercial or registered, are at best 19 months away from generating any income for the ranch. The present cost of getting them to the first “payday” will be greater this year than in years past. Before trading in two to three older productive cows for each “bright and shinier” yearling heifer, I would really check that cull cow’s past performance prior to selling her. (This recom mendation does not apply to that 12-year-old cow with a body condition score of 8.5 and that produced her last calf pre COVID-19. She needs to go.) We must remember that traits of American breed females are the envy of many other breeds. American breed cows have longevity, hybrid vigor, maternal abilities and are adapt able to many environments. Let’s focus on her longevity. If an 8- to 12-year-old cow has remained productive (one calf per year), I would hesitate culling her with the current market con

mostly due to the 3 Fs: feed, fuel and fertilizer. The dry fall, lower cow numbers and better weaned calf prices provide me with a feeling of déjà vu back to 2014-2015. There are multiple factors that should bring all beef pro ducers some optimism. First, the weather pattern is changing. I hope you, like those of us in south Texas, have received some needed moisture. If this weather pattern continues or improves, there should be plenty of summer and fall grass. Second, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jan., 1, 2023, total beef cow inventory came in at 28.9 million head – a number not seen since 1962 (2014 inventory was 29 million head and 2015 inventory was 29.7 million head). In addition, both cow and heifer slaughter in 2022 were well above the 2016-2020 average. Third, this April, fed steers were bringing north of $170 per hundredweight (cwt) in almost all areas of the United States. Will this market rise resemble Pike’s Peak (as it did in 2014-2015) or perhaps a fire ant mound? Only time will tell. My tongue-in-cheek reference to raising and checking your bet is as follows: No matter if we produce registered or com

ditions. Even if her genetics are not the most desirable, she has more than paid for herself over the years. As long as she is functional and has no health issues, she will continue to be an asset to the ranch. Even if a cow missed having a spring 2023 calf, we could also think about rolling her into a fall-calving herd if available. Alternatively, additional options could include breeding her artificially to a reasonably priced British breed sire with desired calving ease and carcass trait expected progeny differences for production of good stocker steer calves and potential Ameri can crossbred commercial replacement heifers. Because of the current unique U.S. cow herd situation, over the next two years I am of the opinion that good profit can be generated from every functional beef cow in the United States.

We must remember that traits of American breed females are the envy of many other breeds.

George West, Texas (361) 566-2244 lacampanaranch.com campana@granderiver.net

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